Posted on 03/25/2005 8:15:15 AM PST by vanderleun
A SHORT NOTE CONCERNING the financial benefits to Michael Schiavo that will accrue from the death of his wife.
I've seen numerous comments that the money given to Terri following various settlements has been dissipated in paying for hospice care and legal bills over the years. I have no way of knowing how true that is, but I suspect that it is, in the main, the case. I also note that the defenders of the man who now has to rank as the worst husband in America since Bill Clinton never tire of pointing out that "he turned down a million dollars " to transfer Terri's guardianship to the family. Again, I have no way of knowing how true that is, but if he did it was a shrewd move and, as we observe Michael Schiavo in his television appearances, we can see he is a shrewd man.
What I do have some sense of is how much money Michael Schiavo stands to make if, and only if, his wife dies. It is, for a man, with a fresh new wife and two children, substantial. Having worked as an editor for Houghton Mifflin and as a literary agent, I have some the price the publishing and media worlds would put on his story. It will be significantly more than twelve pieces of silver.
The book deal: "HER BODY, MY SELF" by Michael Schiavo can be auctioned to a large group of major publishers within ten days of Terri Schiavo's death. This can be arranged by an canny and shameless agent -- and they are legion -- on the basis of 12 telephone calls, a two-page outline, a ghost writer known to the New York publishing world, and a dog-and-pony show where Michael is flown to New York and trotted around to six to eight editors' offices in a day. The bidding for this book will have a floor of two million dollars. The top offer will be in the range of three to three and a half-million for hardcover and paperback rights. Depending on the agent's feel for the market, translation rights may be added to the mix. Film rights will be held back. After the agent's 15% fee, Michael's take from this will be $2,550,000, less $50,000 paid to the ghost writer.
The film and tv rights for Michael's "story" will probably bring in another 1-3 million dollars depending on a number of factors and will, in this instance, be set in motion before the publication of the book.
Speaking fees: Michael Schiavo's lawyer currently commands $15,000 per speaking engagement, so it is not hard to see that Michael could easily pull down $50,000 per engagement. While you probably won't see him show up at Catholic conventions, he's a natural Keynoter for hundreds of other groups across the country and abroad. In the first year alone he could, given a reasonable calendar, be booked for at least 50 events. His gross fees in the first year would, in that case, come to $2,500,000.
Terri Schiavo is worth six to eight million dollars to Michael Schiavo if, and only if, she's dead. If she continues living nothing happens on the book or movie front because there's no ending. When she dies, it is jackpot time for Michael.
I guess he'll be able to buy that nice house his common-law wife has probably been bugging him about for years. It doesn't take a telepath to imagine the pillow talk at Michael Schiavo's house: "We've got two kids and she's still hanging on! You and that lawyer better get cracking. We've got college to think of and need at least five bedrooms! It's a great time to buy. What's the matter with you? Get me my down payment or I'm out of here. And I'm taking the kids... You said you'd get rid of her years ago and we're still in this dump I never liked..."
If you think the current wife's mind-set doesn't play a roll in the killing of Terri Schiavo, think again. Women with children might like having a husband, but they love real estate and tuition funds more. After all, half of a house is forever.
Does he have booked or planned speaking engagements in the present or future?
Is he negotiating a tv or movie deal?
This article is borderline slander. I am not a big fan of the guy either, but come on!
I heard it was $300K. The article was general in saying:
"Schiavo who stands to gain hundreds of thousands from a life insurance policy on her death has said that she should be allowed to die."
Great post.
A real writer wouldn't take 10 million dollars to write this story. But there are so many hacks out there and a lot who agree with the Right to Death crowd who will do the job for $50K. Sick.
Suggest urgent request to Isreal for Dual citizenship for Terri. Ask Isreal to intervene - send plane to pick up Terri. Iceland just granted Fischer citizenship and he was freed from Jail in Japan. This would be a great play for Isreal as it would lock in Conservative Christian base support for Isreal. Then World Court could intervene - there would be no U.S. Jurisdiction any longer. I don't know if you are related to the famous Schindler of WWII who saved the Jews - but this might help sway Isreal. Have the Vatican help with the arrangement. God Bless.
Here is the Isreali consulate in Miami's web site -
http://miami.mfa.gov.il/mfm/web/main/missionhome.asp?MissionID=74&
I've often wondered about his shackup.
What kind of woman would stay with this kind of man? I wonder if she fears being in Terri's place.
Probably thinks she's safe because Michael couldn't do it twice.
WAY too ovbvious.
I wonder if the 'common-law-shack-up' has her own story to tell and will tell it somewhere down the line.
From all the stories, MS sounds like a mean, overbearing SOB. Is he this way at home with his family? I'd love to be a fly on the wall.
But most of all, I hope there will be a civil suit brought by the Shindlers. I want the WHOLE sorry story to be brought before the public, and everything exposed for all to hear -----from the beginning ---- and MS made to try to defend himself. AND ------to have those two creeps, Felos and Greer, and their positions, exposed.
Lastly --- someone, or all, cuffed.
I did hear that on the night of the "accident" when the medics arrived for Terri, the medics were shocked that police weren't called. I didn't get a chance to hear why but maybe somebody out there can tell us.
I wonder if the 'common-law-shack-up' has her own story to tell and will tell it somewhere down the line.
From all the stories, MS sounds like a mean, overbearing SOB. Is he this way at home with his family? I'd love to be a fly on the wall.
But most of all, I hope there will be a civil suit brought by the Shindlers. I want the WHOLE sorry story to be brought before the public, and everything exposed for all to hear -----from the beginning ---- and MS made to try to defend himself. AND ------to have those two creeps, Felos and Greer, and their positions, exposed.
Lastly --- someone, or all, cuffed.
Only we cannot believe anything Michael's brothers say. A brother of his was caught lying like crazy on the Nancy Grace show
OOPS! Sorry 'bout the double post!
But it only reinforces my feelings. I want everything and everyone exposed ---- and have it such a big expose, that the MSM will have to report it!
Ok, you're right. We should believe the speculation of strangers on an internet website instead. They are far more credible.
Nice try Felos but it wont work.
"This article is borderline slander. I am not a big fan of the guy either, but come on!"
Nonsense. No slander in it. I merely report what a sensible range of fees will be if and when book, movie, and speaking deals are struck. I do not say that he has such deals, but I do say that such offers are inevitable. That's just the way the publishing / media world works.
I've been involved in selling various properties for many millions of dollars. I know what I'm talking about here.
Whether Michael Schiavo will accept offers is unknown. What is known is that there will be, and probably already have been, offers made.
I was wrong when I speculated that Jeb Bush or someone in power would save Terri from this barbaric death sentence. No one has.
1. MS will write a book.
2. Felos will write a book.
3. Greer will retire and write his memoirs.
4. The Shindlers will write a book.
5. There will be another 2-3 books by independent authors promising to tell the "real Story".
The only per not writing a book will be Terri.
But only the Schindlers will not need expensive body guards,food tasters etc. I would not want to be this unholy group always having to look over your shoulder. The Schindlers already have plenty of witnesses,documentation,etc to sue the crap out of all of them. In discovery it will all be brought out,and there won't be a blind as a bat women hating Greer to oversee the case.
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